We chat with Maren while she’s in her city, Bilbao, where she’s preparing a very special concert for her. We do it on an equally important day, March 8, a day that will happen “surrounded by women who inspire me, like my mother and my grandmother.” I just posted a video the end, in which he gives his all against climate change. Literally.
It may be that at this stage there are still those who do not know you. How would you introduce yourself?
Maren is a project that comes from my home, because that’s my name. I started making music at 14, with small concerts. And I don’t quite remember how, I ended up devoting myself to it and making music that I don’t really know how to define. But it’s the music that I love.
Tell us about ‘Amaiera’, your new single: how was it born and why did you decide to write it?
I started writing it almost to order, to present it at Benidorm Fest. I wasn’t too sure, because I thought it wasn’t my place. But if I was going, I wanted to talk about something that mattered to me, in this case, climate change. I wanted to approach it from the angle of the end of the world: there are many things that make us kill it. the end it’s a call to action not to wait for someone else to fix it for you. And to remember that change starts with ourselves.
In the video, you can be seen rolling down the hill several times… Did you end up getting bruises?
A lot. There were two days of shooting. After the first I was frozen and with symptoms of hypothermia: I couldn’t get warm. I got very sick, but we kept recording. After the second day, I spent two days without being able to move from the bed. You could say that I was very engaged! (Laughs).
Do you think the artists are too or do you lack a clearer position on topics such as the fight against climate change?
I think this commitment is often masked by a greenwashing of brand collaborations. Sometimes environmental defense remarks are linked to the promotion of a product, or to a type of message that is sometimes insincere. I understand that it’s work and that you have to do this stuff, but I think you have to try to be consistent with what you think. I am not always exemplary either: we are all imperfect. But at least you should try to do your best.
When the Fridays for Future movement was born, I started going to all the protests
How is your daily life going? What are you doing to make the planet a little better?
Four years ago I had an English teacher show us a bunch of documentaries that kind of woke me up. When the Fridays for Future movement was born, I started going to all the demonstrations, even if with the pandemic that has dissipated a bit. At the individual level, I try to eliminate plastic as much as possible, to recycle, to bet on the second hand. And, above all, try to think about what is important when consuming.
Let’s talk about your music. Your songs drink from electronics and pop. Do you miss more guitars, synthesizers and melodies in an industry where reggaeton or trap rules?
Yeah, there was a time when it seemed like there was a resurgence of guitars… but ultimately it didn’t. Now it looks like it’s back down. But there are always very interesting things: I like the current trend of psychedelia, with electronic beats.
Would you have liked to be born in another era?
No (laughs). I’ve thought about it before, but I think it’s a bit of a poisoned idea: we’re very comfortable living the way we live now. Although if you think about it from a purely musical point of view, of course, the 60s and 70s were very interesting.
Basque and Spanish reflect who I am
You sing in English, Spanish and Basque. In the variety is the spice?
It’s that if I only keep one language, it seems to me that I’m only teaching a part of myself. Basque and Spanish reflect who I am. I released an EP in Basque which for me is a whim, because it’s not really commercial. But each language has its charm.
You also appeared on La Voz Kids, although I understand you didn’t remember it with any particular fondness.
It’s because I started taking singing and guitar lessons. My singing teacher suggested it to me, I sent a video and found myself there on TV. It was a little weird: there were a lot of kids who had spent a lot of time on it, and I was like an octopus in a garage (laughs). Yes, I took it very seriously. And I was very angry when they fired me! (Laughs).
It’s live that the songs shine the most: in the studio, they are much lighter versions
For those who haven’t seen you live. How are your concerts going? What makes them special?
It’s live that the songs shine the most: in the studio, they are much lighter versions. The main thing is in the concerts. People’s attitude plays a fundamental role. If a cool atmosphere is generated, the songs shine much brighter. Even if all the concerts are not equal: if I play in a festival I try to play the most powerful songs, whereas if it’s in the room there will be a bit of everything.
Finally, how do you see your future? Where do you see yourself in a few years?
I wish I could devote myself to it forever, especially as a performer. I want to keep writing and performing live. And if not, I would love to work for other people, produce music.